St. Louis Rams: Thursday's Rams News and Notes at Noon

Welcome to Thursday's St. Louis Rams "News and Notes at Noon," the one-stop locale for all major Rams headlines and other items of interest to Rams Nation. 

Audio Indicating Intent to Injure 49ers Surfaces on Rams Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams

Audio that clearly indicates an intent to harm and injure San Francisco 49ers players before Gregg Williams Saints' defenders took the field in their playoff battle last season has been released, and the bluntness and violence of some of Williams' statements are eye-opening, as reported in this piece by Michael Silver of sports.yahoo.com.  

Mike Sando of ESPN has made much of the audio available via this column.  

Please note, however, that the language and profanity could potentially be offensive to some, so you may want to consider that before listening.  If others are in the room, headphones might be a good bet. 

Williams had already been suspended indefinitely for his role as the ringleader of the Saints' bounty program.  

Although NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did not shut the door on a possible Williams return to the NFL, this audio going public has to make any potential return even less likely, if it is not, in fact, the final nail in the coffin.

Following the suspension of Williams, Goodell reportedly submitted this letter to the disgraced former New Orleans defensive coordinator and told him what was expected of him and what might help him rejoin the league at some point following the 2012 season.

Up to this point, at least, the Rams and head coach Jeff Fisher have not shut the door, at least publicly, on any potential Williams comeback.  

Rams Exhibition Schedule Is Set

The NFL released its exhibition schedule on Wednesday.  The Rams' preseason schedule, of course, was also released.  According to a piece in stltoday.com, St. Louis will play the following slate in 2012: 

Week 1: @ Indianapolis Colts

Week 2: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week 3: @ Dallas Cowboys

Week 4: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Interestingly, the Rams will get the first look at Andrew Luck, who is almost a lock to be selected by the Colts with the No. 1 pick in this month's 2012 NFL Draft in Week 1 of the exhibition campaign.  

In Week 2, St. Louis will host the in-state rival Kansas City Chiefs in the annual Governor's Cup event. The Chiefs will trek down Interstate 70 to meet the Rams in St. Louis to do battle.  

In Week 3, the Rams travel to face "America's Team" in Dallas, and that could theoretically see a reunion of former Oklahoma State wide receivers Dez Bryant and potential future St. Louis Rams wideout Justin Blackmon.

Finally, in Week 4, the Rams will host a 2011 AFC playoff team as Ray Lewis and the Ravens visit the Edward Jones Dome to finish off the preseason schedule. 

Top Tight Ends in the 2012 NFL Draft

Former NFL executive and current contributor for 101sports.com Tony Softli has released his criteria for evaluating tight ends and analysis of the top tight end prospects who have made themselves eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft. 

Softli names his top five tight ends and lists a few others who should be watched going forward.  

Where does former Missouri TE Michael Egnew rank in Softli's eyes?  Softli lets you know his thoughts on Egnew and where he sees him being selected in the above-linked piece. 

Much More on Torry Holt's Wednesday Retirement

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch penned two terrific columns on the now-retired Torry "Big Game" Holt.  

In the first Thomas column, Holt talks about how he still wanted to play last season when asked about being tempted to play this year but eventually came to the realization that it was time to hang up the cleats and move on:

"

If you would've asked me this last year, yeah. But to answer your question, no, I'm done. I'll come back for (Rams) training camp to help out the younger guys, but that's about it.

Nothing developed (as for trying to get back into the league last year) and it was time to move on, I don't hang my head about it at all. I had a great ride; I enjoyed every moment of it.

"

Holt also talked of how he was very appreciative of his time in St. Louis and stated how it was appropriate that in ended here in the Gateway City, as also reported by Thomas in the above-linked column:

"

I feel blessed that I'm able to formally finish my career with the organization that drafted me in 1999. The fans and the city of St. Louis have been good to me, my wife, and my family. I feel very fortunate that I was able to come to St. Louis and be surrounded by so many outstanding coaches and outstanding players.

This is where it all started for me, and it's fitting that this is also where it ends.

"

In the second Thomas column for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Holt addresses his future as a potential Hall of Fame candidate at his retirement ceremony while acknowledging the logjam of wide receivers waiting to become immortalized in Canton, Ohio: 

"

Shoot, we've got to get Cris Carter in the Hall, we have to get Andre Reed in the Hall, we've got to get Tim Brown in the Hall before we even start mentioning anything about Torry Holt being in the Hall.

In terms of the Hall, if it happens it'll be great. But this (retiring with the Rams) is great validation for me. I've got this, I've got a (Super Bowl) ring. I've got great teammates, great coaches, great family, great friends.

"

Finally, Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com takes a look back at Holt's legacy in this article.  

Wagoner looks back at the great journey that Holt undertook in St. Louis, one that began with a phone call back in 1999 from former Rams head coach Dick Vermeil.

Have a great day as always, STL Rams Nation. 

Shane Gray covers the St. Louis Rams daily as a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You are encouraged to check out the rest of his work here and to follow him on Twitter. Gray also owns and operates stlramscentral.com.